Out of the past 12/22/02

10 years ago: Dec. 22, 1992

Request to give Cape Girardeau voters opportunity to decide whether riverboat gambling should be allowed here is drawing opposition from religious quarters; at yesterday's city council meeting, two local ministers objected to proposal that was submitted to council by Downtown Redevelopment Corp., which seeks voter approval to dock "floating casino" on Cape Girardeau riverfront.

Jefferson City - Residents of Puxico are feeling good about their potential influence in administration of Gov.-elect Mel Carnahan; Carnahan has made six staff appointments so far, and two are natives of Puxico; Chris Sifford will be communications director in governor's office, and Roy Temple will be deputy chief of staff.

25 years ago: Dec. 22, 1977

After week of activity, first incidents of violence have cropped up to mar nationwide farm strike; meanwhile, strike offices in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois report continuing pickets at selected sites; violent incident came yesterday afternoon in Carmi, Ill., about 90 miles east of Cape Girardeau; windshield on truck was smashed with shovel as it started to enter Emge Meat Co. stockyard.

Incumbent Councilman Paul W. Stehr came off fence Wednesday and filed as candidate to retain his seat, which will be filled in April 1978 election; Stehr filled out filing papers Wednesday night, just before mid-month meeting of council and handed them to City Clerk Verna Lee Landis after meeting.

50 years ago: Dec. 22, 1952

Curtains and blinds are destroyed and window casing is charred by fire in second-floor room at Leming Hall, women's dormitory on State College campus in evening; short circuit in desk lamp causes blaze; occupants aren't evacuated from building, and fire is out when firemen arrive.

William H. Pfisterer, 42, owner of Pfisterer's drive-in establishment, 2125 Broadway, dies suddenly of heart attack at family home; Pfisterer was born in Cape Girardeau; he attended Central High School and Chicago School of Engineering; in 1935 he married Mildred Miller, who survives, along with his father and brother; following World War II, when he served in Army, he went to Louisiana and engaged in ice cream business; he returned to Cape Girardeau in 1947 and purchased drive-in.

75 years ago: Dec. 22, 1927

Past three days have been record days at Cape Girardeau post office, according to Postmaster H.A. Haas; availing themselves of Christmas reminder to mail early, Girardeans have enabled post office clerks to get large part of mail out of way; Monday was rush day, with thousands of packages received that day; Tuesday was characterized by same tempo, and sale of more than $1,000 worth of postage stamps.

Portions of approaches on bridge over Diversion Channel on Highway 25 near Dutchtown, washed out by excessive rains last week, will be repaired immediately, says Division Engineer S.F. Cleland; he estimates it will take two weeks to complete work, and bridge will be shut down for that period.

-- Sharon K. Sanders